A far-right Israeli minister has sparked controversy by leading hundreds of Jewish Israelis to Jerusalem’s most contested holy site, the al-Aqsa Mosque compound, known to Jews as the Temple Mount. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s visit on Tuesday defied the Israeli government’s long-standing ban on Jewish prayer at the site, which is revered by both Jews and Muslims.
Ben-Gvir’s provocative move was met with condemnation from Palestinian leaders, as well as international reactions from the United States, France, the United Nations, and several Arab nations. The minister’s assertion that “our policy is to enable Jewish prayer” has been rejected by the Israeli prime minister’s office, which maintained that there had been no change to the status quo agreement governing the site.
The al-Aqsa Mosque compound is the holiest site for Jews due to its association with the Biblical temples and the third holiest site for Muslims, believed to be where Prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven. Captured by Israel from Jordan in the 1967 Middle East war, the site has been under Israeli control with Jordan maintaining its historical custodianship. The current status quo allows only Muslim worship at the site, with Jewish visits being regulated.
In recent years, there have been concerns from Palestinians and critics that Israel is undermining the arrangements, with some Jewish visitors reportedly praying at the site without intervention. Videos shared on social media showed groups of Jewish Israelis singing the national anthem and praying at the edge of the holy site.
During his visit, escorted by Israeli police, Ben-Gvir described the event as a step towards greater Israeli sovereignty and governance over the site. He also expressed strong views on the Gaza conflict, emphasizing a need for Israel to take a hardline stance against Hamas.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office later stated that Ben-Gvir’s actions deviated from the established status quo, reaffirming the government’s policy on the Temple Mount. Ben-Gvir responded by defending his position, arguing for greater freedom of worship for Jews.
The Palestinian foreign ministry condemned the visit as a dangerous escalation and warned of serious consequences. Jordan’s Waqf, the Islamic endowment administering the site, reported that over 2,000 Israelis had entered the compound and called for international support to maintain the status quo.
Jordan and Egypt also criticized the visit, with Jordan’s foreign ministry accusing the Israeli government of flouting international laws and Egypt claiming that Ben-Gvir’s actions jeopardize ceasefire efforts. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and the French foreign ministry condemned the visit as provocative and counterproductive to regional stability. UN spokesperson Farhan Haq echoed these sentiments, emphasizing that such actions undermine efforts to preserve the holy site’s status quo.
